Posted By Troy E. Renck On April 6, 2010 @ 4:11 pm In Rockies on Deck | No Comments

MILWAUKEE — Huston Street’s visit to Dr. James Andrews in Alabama was driven by his desire to receive a second opinion. The results of that exam confirmed what the Rockies have told him: there’s inflammation, but no structural damage. But the Rockies are determined to take it even slower with Street, further delaying his return to the big league roster. He’s going to do strengthening exercises longer before even attempting to play catch.

Street had hoped to be back in the big leagues closing games by May 1. That seems overly ambitious at this point. My best guess is May 15. But that’s all it is a guess until Street redlines off a mound again and sees how his shoulder responds.

There was good news with Jeff Francis. He played catch without pain today. He landed on the DL with soreness under his left armpit. The injury is not related to his shoulder surgery. It is a result of him exerting himself in a way he hasn’t in 18 months. This type of pain usually surfaces following surgery, it’s just a matter of when. Obviously for Francis, the timing was terrible — coming off his best outing with the season ready to start.

Francis will play catch again tomorrow and travel with the team to Denver. He’s likely to return to Tucson in roughly a week.
Taylor Buchholz threw 20 pitches off the mound in Tucson, fastballs and changeups. If he could come back anything like the pitcher he was in 2008 that would be a huge lift for the bullpen and help order the pieces better.